Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-18
PRISON DIRECTORS.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE NEW
JUTE WORKS DISCUSSED.
Governor Waterman Gives a Sur
prise Party-Boggs Removed and
w. T. Coleman Appointed.

meeting was fully explained in yesterdays
RECORD UNION. The last Legislature ap-
propriated S160, 900 for the erection OF these
works, and the specifications submitted
some months since TO this same committee
had to be pruned some SO rs TO bring the
cost of construction within the appropriated
amount. The Prison Directors and the
State officials referred to met in the office
of the Governor at 80 P. NJ. The meeting
was called to order by the Governor, who
said he was ready to hear what they had to
say.
WHAT THEY WANTED.
Director Boggs said Governor, we have
asked to come before you to make some
changes in the estimates for the proposed
jute works at San Quentin" and remarked
that their mission would be better under
stood from letter written by the Warden
of the San Quentin Prison, which Director
Sonntag would read.
Director Sonntag then read long letter
from Warden Shirley. reviewing the estl-
mates already on file and making a few
changes, such as striking out So, 5000 for the
use OF the old pulleys, shafting and betting
which now forms part of the furniture
factory of the prison and which should be
turned in without price. Also deoucting
81 so per thousand added as profit on brick
to be used in the jute mill aud which are
made with prison labor. This would re-
duce the estimates. so that the bids and es-
Inmates would amount TO only Sl59, 9l2 81,
and come within the appropriation.
WHERE IS SHIRLEY
Governor Waterman see that docu-
ment is signed by your Warden. Where is
he? Why is he not here? Are all your
Directors here?
L. al l,,f L.
wilkins is absent-in Humboldt county, l
believe.
Governor Waterman-This is matter of
great importance, one that should have care
ful attention, and should be acted upon by
the whole Board. / think they should all
be here at this meeting. What think YOU,
Mr.. Secretary of State and Mr. State Treas
urer?
State Treasurer Herold said he agreed
with the Governor. Here was 100000 OF
the peoples money to be disposed Of, and
before he signed the papers he desired to
have all the information possible. He
thought all the Board of Directors. and
particularly the Warden, should be in at
tendance.
Secretary of State Hendricks conceded
with this view, and said he was not sure
that the jute works were a great thing for
the State, any way.
Each one of the Directors then took
hand in explanation of the long columns
of figures submitted by Warden Shirley.
All they asked was the approval of the
three State officers and they would proceed
with the work Immediately. A summary
of their estimates was: Building, $26 4l2 "a;
machinery, $1O40 600; sewing machines,
$1,000; engine. IS 600; shafting, etc, $l2,-
600; freight, 81 500; setting up machinery,
$500; incidentals, $500. Total, $780,
9l2 81
soME PLAIN EXPRESSIONS.
Secretary of State Hendricks SAID he
never expected much from prison jnte
factory which had to compete with the
cheap East India labor.
The Governor asked the cost of the pres
ent plant and the profits from the same
during the past year, and when this infor-
nation was given him he said he did not
think the profits were in proportion TO the
cost of the plant.
Director Sonntag said the Governor
should not expect so much from convict
labor. The prisons were full of opium
fiends, boodlums, cripples and persons of
little intellect, and they were averse to
work Of any kind. You cannot get as much
labor out OF a criminal SIS you can from a
free man.
Governor Waterman-If that is the case,
l would like to keep them there and make
them work. If what you say is true where
do these Conyicts get all the credits allowed
them, which cut their sentences short two,
three and five years, and which am called
upon every month to sign2 If they won't
work why are they given credits2 | want
to know something about these little de-
tails.
Director Sonntag tried to explain that
this was in accordance with the GoodW in
Act, and all prisoners were not INDECENT
but all were not able bodied. Their la t
lives had been mostly those of dissipation,
and many were broken in health and feeble
minded.
Governor Waterman-Woul you CON
slider il very bad policy to put opium tiends,
hoodlums and insane men to work on such
fine machines as those you propose pur-
chasing?
Director Sonntag then went into detail
explaining how work in the jute factory
was performed and how the prisoners were
classified so as to get the most labor.
THE GOVERNOR THROWS BOMB INTO CAMP.
After some further explanations regard
ing the Shirley figures by Director Devlin,
Governor Waterman picked up one of The
| specifications and calling attention to the
Endorsement of the Directors, remarked &:
q see Mr.. BOgIs' name here as one of the
| Directors. Now / understand Sir. Is Eggs is
, not Director. He did not qualify for a
year and half after his appointment. The
law. as / understand it. is very plain that
he must qualify inside of ten days after his
| appointment"
If u bomb had been suddenly exploded
! in the Office il would not have caused more
CONSERVATION than did this simple an
nouncement. Shirley's figures for the
moment were forgotten and the Directors
eyed each other with an expression OF
| Well whose head comes OIL next"
director BOggs after moment said
Governor, am not stuck after the posi-
| ton. | was sworn in at the State Prison,
and have been acting with the Board ever
since. do remember, since you call my
attention to the fact, that some papers
were sent TO me some months afterwards
to fill out for filing in the Secretary OF
States office
A LITTLE PLAIN TALK.
| Governor Waterman said he had been
informed that such was the case, and, ad-
dressing Mr. Boggs, said: e l want you
| sir, to look this matter up. | will invest